Do the oil legs turn blue at the cut point?

Many novice mushroom pickers with great distrust belong to mushrooms that turn blue at the place of the cut. Taking them for poisonous ones, they simply throw out completely edible fruiting bodies. I must say that the effect of "blue" is inherent in even the most delicious edible mushrooms. This reaction extends to certain types of oils. So, fans of the “silent hunt” may find that the leg of the oiler on the cut turns blue.

Oil mushrooms and other similar mushrooms that turn blue on a cut

If you come across such an interesting phenomenon, then it is quite natural to ask a question: Do the oily blue on the cut or is it a sign of poisonous mushrooms? In fact, many representatives of the "mushroom kingdom" at the cut site acquire a bluish tint due to oxidation associated with the reaction of the mushroom flesh to air. This is absolutely normal, and you should not worry about this. If you are absolutely sure of a torn oiler, but you see a blue at the place of the cut, you can safely send it to the basket.

I must say that a similar reaction to air occurs in all fungi, without exception. It’s just that in some species it is barely noticeable, while in others it appears in a “fabulous” shade. So happens with grease nipple or turning blue (Suillus aeruginascens) - an edible representative of the mushroom world. Many mushroom pickers are in no hurry to cut them and eat because of the characteristic blue color that appears at the place of the cut. However, in this case, blue does not affect the taste of this mushroom, it just does not look aesthetically pleasing. Yellow brown (motley) grease fitting (Suillus variegatus) also turns blue on the cut, but it does not taste very good. For its specific taste, it is considered to be inedible (but not poisonous).

There are mushroom-like mushrooms that turn blue on the cut. it goats, which can often be confused with a regular grease fitting. This fungus family mushroom is also edible.